BioCosm | The one stop shop for Nature-based Solutions | Business Innovation

Introduction

Carbon Dioxide is the main contributor to global warming and climate crisis. CO2 traps the heat that is re-radiated from the Earth, thus, increasing the Earth’s surface temperature. The main causes of CO2 emissions are:
1. 40% emissions made by burning fossil fuels for energy production.
2. 42% emissions made by the built environment.
3. 28% done by the transportation industry

In the building industry, the maximum amount of CO2 is produced by cement, iron, aluminum and steel. 

PROBLEM

How to incorporate biomaterials to benefit having a circular economy?

How can we approach design & construction with the intention to reduce CO2 emissions and increase carbon sequestration?

How can we reduce the waste created by commercial materials and increase upcycling?

WHAT DID PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY?

VALUE PROPOSITION

1. Reducing the CO2 emissions released through the construction industry:
   The construction industry accounts for 42% of the greenhouse gas emissions. How can this be controlled moving on and how can we reduce the emissions and reabsorb the carbon that is already in the atmosphere?
2. Making Nature Based Solutions accessible by everyone:
   Facilitate designers, contractors and other professionals in the field with the knowledge on Nature-based Design Solutions using locally available materials and techniques. This will be done with the aid of an assistive design tool and subsequently the bio material
3. Uplifting Local Communities & Businesses and Boost the Micro-economy:
   The goal is to promote local businesses and accelerate the production of natural materials and by way increase the attention and care directed towards natural resources. Via supporting local efforts there is a boost in the micro-economy due to the increase in job opportunities to meet the new demand of local products. 

PROPOSED SOLUTION

At BioCosm, we decided to approach the problem in two manners. First through an interactive assistive design tool database that makes Nature Based Solutions accessible to everyone, with the knowledge and information needed to facilitate region specific designs and materials; and second using the database to create a bio-engineered material that can replace the conventional construction materials like concrete, steel, and aluminum.

B2B | Assistive Design Tool

An Open-source Assistive Design Tool to aid and promote the use of Nature-based Solutions. Subsequently, assisting architects and designers to move towards a more sustainable approach to design & construction.

B2C | Material Innovation

Creating a composition of structurally sound Biomaterials from the Assistive Design Tool that sequesters Carbon Dioxide and aims to produce universally mass produced toxic materials.

MARKET

B2B | Assistive Design Tool

As it currently stands it is difficult to find data regarding NBS. With the need to implement NBS increasing, there is an urgency for a one stop shop for NBS. Hence, there is a large market for and open-source NBS database which also serves as an assistive design tool to aid region specific design.

B2C | Material Innovation

Now more than ever, it is important to shift the paradigm of toxic materials towards more Bio based Solutions. Hence, there is a high developing demand for the product to replace universally mass produced toxic materials.

WHY NOW?

Based on the Paris Agreement, we need to act now to control the raise of temperatures till 2050. If it crosses the 2°C threshold, the world will have crossed its tipping point and the damage done will be irreversible. 

Now more than ever before, is there a need to ensure that we change how we tackle the construction to solve the growing demand for infrastructure, as statistics show the world population is exponentially growing. The answer, Nature Based Solutions.

NBS is the solution to reducing carbon emissions during construction while sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. However, the information and framework for these solutions is difficult to come across. Hence, the need for a single open source assistive design tool is high. It’s a tool that destigmatizes nature based solutions while making all available data accessible by anyone who so chooses to use it. 

SURVEY RESULTS

BUSINESS MODEL

ROAD MAP

1. Conducting surveys to understand market value and potential customer traction.
2. A simulation of the test will be run for Barcelona & Mumbai to compare the performance and results.
3. Run the simulation for a user based on the data they feed into the system.
4. Create a mock website to understand the number of people drawn to the website.
5. The finished material will be lab tested for efficiency and strength before hitting the market.
6. The installation tests the user experience and carbon sequestering properties.

TRACTION

All data shown below was collected through the independent surveys conducted amongst potential clients and users of the business.

MEET THE TEAM

INVESTMENTS & FUNDING

CALL FOR ACTION